Oak Ridge Today

Willow Ridge Garden Center named small business of month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce recently presented Willow Ridge Garden Center with its Small Business of the Month designation for February 2022. Pictured are Christine Michaels, Greg Steele, Kelley O’Dell, Scott Russell, Chris Johnson, April Fugate, Lora Barker, Florenda Howard, and Norm Nelson. (Submitted photo)

 

Willow Ridge Garden Center has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for February 2022.

The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

Willow Ridge Garden Center is located at 97 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“When the weather is bleak, wet, dreary, and cold, it may not seem like the time to visit Willow Ridge Garden Center,” a press release said. “But, according to garden center retail manager Greg Steele—or ‘Greg the Friendly Garden Guy’ to followers of the Willow Ridge Facebook page—it’s always planting season. ‘We are here year round and you can plant year round. There is not a time when you can not plant, so you can always get your hands dirty—it’s good for you!'” [Read more…]

Promo Joe by Jessica named Small Business of Month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Promo Joe by Jessica was named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for December. Craig Peters of Enrichment Federal Credit Union, sponsor of the monthly award, is pictured with Jessica Diveto, owner of Promo Joe by Jessica. (Submitted photo)

 

Promo Joe by Jessica was named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for December.

The monthly award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. This is a free story. Thank you to our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. You can see what we cover here.

Do you appreciate this story or our work in general? If so, please consider a monthly subscription to Oak Ridge Today. See our Subscribe page here. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today!

Alternatively, you can donate to support our work here. Thank you for your support!

Copyright 2021 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Small business of month: Acato Information Management

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Acato Information Management, located at 173 Mitchell Road, is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for November 2021. (Submitted photo)

 

Acato Information Management, located at 173 Mitchell Road, is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for November 2021, a press release said. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

“Service, integrity, and joy—those are the core values of Acato Information Management,” the press release said. “Owner Cathy Toth says those values drive everything they do.”

Launched in 2010, Acato is a software company focused on software quality. The company provides software testing for clients and government contractors.

“Traditional software testing revolves around executing tasks and resolving defects,” Toth said. “The value we bring is figuring out how well you know if you got what you wanted and then how you will confirm that you got what you wanted. It’s that analysis and then building tests to do that is really where we bring more value to the client.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber names Life Safety Inspections small business of month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Life Safety Inspections (LSI), located at 313 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 107 A, is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for October 2021. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union. (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

Life Safety Inspections is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for October 2021. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

Ask owner Chip Dooley what led him to start LSI and he’ll tell you it came to him in a dream. 13 years ago, he found himself unhappy in his job – he had even gone so far as to write a letter of resignation, but just wasn’t quite ready to submit it. He tucked it away under his desk calendar and went home. That night, he dreamed about fire extinguishers and exit signs. He began researching fire extinguisher companies in the area and could only find six. After working on a business plan, he decided the market could handle another one.

According to Chip, “The hardest thing was to bring it to my wife and say, ‘Hey! I’m quitting my job, and we’re gonna be broke.’ She didn’t bat an eye. She said, ‘That’s fine’ and I was just amazed. She’s been my champion and cheerleader ever since.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Pharmacy named small business of month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Pictured above are Saad Aqqad, Allyson Neal, Brittany Moser, and Lindsey Rowland of Oak Ridge Pharmacy.

 

Oak Ridge Pharmacy was named the small business of the month in September by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

The pharmacy is located at 854 Main Street West.

The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union, a press release said.

“Driven by the desire to better meet the needs of customers he had served for many years at a large pharmacy, Saad Aqqad opened Oak Ridge Pharmacy in July 2019,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Anderson County man charged with robbing credit union

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Joshua Ryan Hutchins

An Anderson County man was arrested Tuesday night after he allegedly robbed a credit union in Oak Ridge.

The alleged robbery of Enrichment Federal Credit Union on South Illinois Avenue was reported at about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Joshua Ryan Hutchins, 27, was arrested less than seven hours later, just before midnight, by the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force.

According to a court affidavit, Hutchins allegedly entered the credit union during the Tuesday evening robbery and presented a note to a teller that said, “This is a Robbery…”

[Read more…]

ORPD, FBI investigating robbery at credit union

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Law enforcement officers are investigating a robbery at Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

The robbery was reported at about 5:24 p.m. Tuesday at the credit union on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. It’s being investigated by the Oak Ridge Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

During the alleged robbery, a suspect handed a note to tellers demanding money, a press releases said. No weapon was displayed or threatened, the press release said.

The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money and is described as a white male in his 30s with brown hair. He was last seen wearing a grey/white ball cap, black face mask, and a grey hooded sweatshirt, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Katy Jett named president of Explore Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Katy Jett

Katy Jett

 

Katy Jett, a marketing executive with extensive Oak Ridge ties, has been named president of Explore Oak Ridge.

Jett has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Tennessee and served in business development and marketing for K-25 Federal Credit Union for seven years, a press release said. She was vice president of marketing for UT Federal Credit Union for 12 years before joining Enrichment Federal Credit Union, where she was VP of marketing for 10 years.

Jett’s marketing roles have included media relations, promotions, event management, community involvement, budget management, training, and leadership, the press release said. [Read more…]

Help local families through Dine & Donate on Monday, August 8

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Burchfield's and Ray and Fanny Smith

ADFAC board member Ray Smith, along with his wife Fanny, enjoy a meal at Burchfield’s, located inside Doubletree Hotel in Oak Ridge. Burchfield’s is one of only two Dine & Donate restaurants open during breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours—making any time on Monday, August 8, a great time to support ADFAC and Burchfield’s! (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, August 8, 10 restaurant locations throughout Anderson County will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. The event, Dine & Donate, happens on the second Monday of each month.

“Dine & Donate is a very important fundraiser for ADFAC,” said Cande Seay, Dine & Donate chair. “It always gladdens my heart to see friends and family dine out on second Mondays—enjoying meals together and helping ADFAC!”

Participating restaurants on Monday, August 8, are:

  • Burchfield’s in Oak Ridge
  • Hoskins in Clinton
  • Mediterranean Delight in Oak Ridge
  • Popeyes in Oak Ridge
  • Razzleberry’s in Oak Ridge
  • Subway locations in Clinton (both), west Oak Ridge (Four Oaks Center), Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top

[Read more…]

Sponsored: Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame inducts two retired CEOs from local credit unions

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tom Hilton and Wayne Hope

Tom Hilton, left, retired CEO of Y-12 FCU, and Wayne Hope, retired CEO of Enrichment Federal Credit Union, were inducted into the TN Credit Union Hall of Fame. (Submitted photo)

 

Created jointly by Volunteer Corporate Credit Union and the Tennessee Credit Union League, the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame recognizes the valuable leadership and contributions of credit union people in the state of Tennessee. Beginning in 2010, the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame has recognized the commitment, leadership, and service deserving individuals have made to the credit union movement.

The judges considered the following criteria when making their selection:

  • Years of service to the credit union system;
  • Positions of leadership on the state, local, or national level;
  • Demonstrated commitment to the credit union philosophy and services; and
  • Credit union system educational accomplishments and support.

The two 2016 inductees into the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame both reside in the East Tennessee region. This year’s awards were given to Tom Hilton, retired chief executive officer of Y-12 Federal Credit Union, and M. Wayne Hope, retired CEO of Enrichment Federal Credit Union. Both recipients have lived their lives and modeled to others the credit union difference of “People Helping People.” [Read more…]

Enrichment Federal Credit Union beats goal, donates $11K to United Way

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Enrichment Federal Credit Union Donates to United Way of Anderson County

Pictured above during a check presentation are Charles and Edwina Crowe, 2013 campaign chair family for the United Way of Anderson County; April Fugate and Ellora Drinnen, UWAC campaign co-chairs for Enrichment Federal Credit Union; and Wayne Hope, EFCU CEO. (Submitted photo)

Employees at Enrichment Federal Credit Union beat their goal and raised $11,482 for the United Way of Anderson County.

Each year, the credit union collects pledge forms and conducts several events to help raise money for the UWAC, a press release said. This year,the credit union set a goal of $9,000.

Employees just completed their month-long campaign, led by campaign co-chairs Northshore Branch Manager Ellora Drinnen and West Branch Manager April Fugate. Staff members used hamburger lunches, pancake breakfasts, chili cook-offs, and “Silly String attacks” were used to help raise money. [Read more…]

Comfort Inn holiday events benefit CASA of the Tennessee Heartland

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Breakfast with Santa

Proceeds from a “Breakfast with Santa” at Comfort Inn Oak Ridge on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will benefit CASA of the Tennessee Heartland. (Photo courtesy T. Whigham Photography)

Families can kick off the Christmas season with Santa and help a local nonprofit volunteer organization at the same time by visiting the Comfort Inn Oak Ridge during December. The hotel is offering several different activities for the community to get in the holiday spirit with a portion of the proceeds from each event going to CASA of the Tennessee Heartland.

“We are so thankful to Comfort Inn for contacting us with this opportunity,” said Naomi Asher, executive director of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland. “Every dollar raised will help provide a voice in court for an abused and neglected child right here in our community.”

The Comfort Inn Oak Ridge will serve as the official site for “Pictures with Santa” throughout the holidays. T. Whigham Photography will be taking professional photos with Santa at the hotel from Friday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Dec. 21. The hours are as follows: Monday through Friday from 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays from noon-6 p.m. One dollar from every photo taken will benefit CASA and will be matched by Enrichment Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]